Improvement in music-leaf turners



0. W. CLARK. MUSIC LEAF-TURNER.

No.-180,991. Patented Aug.1-5, 1876.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFIE.

ORSON W. CLARK, OF APPLETON, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN MUSIC-LEAF TURNERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 180,991, dated August15, 1876; application filed April 21, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORSON W. CLARK, of Appleton, in the county ofOutagamie and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Music-Leaf Turners and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make anduse it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which formpart of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in music-leaf turners; and hasfor its object the facilitating the labor of the musician, when themusic to be executed occupies two or more sheets.

If the operator is obliged to attend to turning the music himself byhand, the execution of the piece is broken, and its rendering is, ofnecessity, less agreeable.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 across-section, of my improvement, while Fig. 3 is a view, in detail, ofthe catches with the front plate removed.

A is the bed-plate supporting the other parts, and is hinged at its rearto the lower front edge of the section B, standing thereon. By such ahinging it is apparentthat this section may be turned and folded downupon the supporting-plate, while to its top and rear edge is hinged themusic-rest G, which folds backward. By this construction the music-rackmay be adjusted forward or back, according to the't-hickness of themusic or book used,

and the leaves are brought near to the nippers, by which they areengaged in order to turn them. Spring-clamps D are attached to thecentral face of the music-rest, and serve as engagements forsheet-music, being held in position when the latter is used. The frontedge of the supporting-plate is provided with a bar, E, which answersthe double purpose of a binder to the compressed ends of the holders,and an outwardlyprojecting stand for the catch and liberating mechanism.In its face is a slot, F, closed in front by a metallic plate, Gr,having apertures, by which connection may be had with the holders L.This slot is provided with a series of catches, H, consisting simply ofa perpendicular rod, whose upper extremity works freely and withvertical play in its engagement, while its lower extremity passesthrough the base-plate of the slot, and is provided with a horizontalarm, which engages with a corresponding system of keys, I. Near thelower approach of the catch to the base-plate is a shoulder, 71, formedby recess ing the rear side of the catch at such a point, and serves asthe end lcverage-bearin g for the spring 71/, which latter regulates theaction of the catch. At suitable distances on the catches are recessedlugs "5, corresponding in height to the position of the several holders,and eugagto grasp and securely retain the several leaves Y of music.

It is apparent that any clamping device may be employed for thislast-named purpose, and also that the metallic apparatus forimpartingspring and reactive force to the holder may be varied for any suitablematerial or construction capable of imparting such action.

The operation of the device is as follows: If book-music is used, thesame is placed in support upon the music-rest, and the leaves,respectively, attached to each individual nipper in consecutive order.If sheet-music, however, is to be used, the back of the sheet is to beattached to the rest by the clamps D, and the rest 0 folded down andforward by means of the sections B, so as to bring the music forward, toallow of its engagement with the nippers M.

It is understood that the entire device is placed upon the piano, whileits rest 0 is folded back, so as to be supported by the music-frameusual to pianos or other instruments.

At the appropriate time a key, I, is touched by the operator, when thecatch is drawn down by the engagement of its horizontal arm with saidkey, and frees its corresponding holder, which thereupon flies back,carrying with it the leaf to which it is attached, and allowing of thefollowing page to be read. One after another these keys may be,respectively, operated, and they may be of any number and form, as mayalso be the series of catches and holders.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a music-leaf turner, the combination, with the hinged'sections BU, of the series of metallic springs, each of which is provided with anipper, M, and suitable locking and releasing mechanism, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the hinged sec- ORSON W. CLARK.

Witnesses HERMANN EBB, I. J. FRANKLIN.

